Child death rates plummet

Death rates of children and youth in industrialized countries are low, and one might think there is little room for improvement. Yet mortality rates among children under 20 in industrialized countries have fallen dramatically in recent decades. Death rates for girls and boys in 1993 are less than half what they were in 1970.

Nonetheless, boys continue to die, on average, at a rate about 50% higher than girls: Boys' rates fell from 184 per 100,000 in 1970 to 84 in 1993, while girls' declined during the same period from 126 per 100,000 to 57. Boys die at higher rates than girls in all industrialized countries.

The disparity in boys' and girls' death rates is highest in Portugal, where the rate for boys in 1993 was 72% higher than for girls. Israel has the smallest disparity, with the boys' rate 25% greater.

There are significant disparities among countries. Romania has the highest combined mortality rates: 179 deaths per 100,000 population for boys and 127 per 100,000 for girls. Japan has the lowest rates: 54 deaths per 100,000 for boys and 35 for girls.

Most of the decline in death rates among under-20s occurred among children under 5, mainly the result of improved health care. Death rates for ages 15-19 (boys and girls) declined by about half the under-5 rate. Most of the older boys' deaths are caused by accidents, such as car crashes, falls and firearm mishaps.